Hometown Hits

December 12, 2006|By FROM NEWS SERVICES

-- Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski got into a shoving match with St. Louis Cardinal and World Series MVP David Eckstein at a Total Nonstop Action Wrestling event on Sunday in Orlando. Also in the melee, Sox conditioning coach Dale Torborg, slugged Eckstein's brother. "Dale and I were a little upset that they got the big entrance, yet we just got introduced from the [seats]," Pierzynski said. "We got a little jealous, so we took out our frustration on them." Torborg and Pierzynski tore up Eckstein's new inspirational children's book, which led to the pull-apart. "It was a thrill to be out there," Eckstein said.

-- Peter Bondra passed his physical and had his first skate with the Hawks on Monday; coach Denis Savard wouldn't rule out using him Tuesday night against the Blues.

-- Ben Gordon came off the bench for the 127th time in his 183-game NBA career Monday night. "Coming off the bench, I want to do things that will keep me in the game longer," he said. "If I come off the bench and get 35 minutes, I'm doing my job."

-- Coach Scott Skiles recently praised Ben Wallace for his post-practice work with project Martynas Andriuskevicius. Wallace also has taken Tyrus Thomas under his wing.

-- The Bulls assigned Andriuskevicius to the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League.

-- Windy City Gym, with its 85-year history at two city locations, will be officially shuttered Dec. 31. That's the deadline on an eviction notice from the building's owner.